Council of Europe

The Council of Europe is an international organisation of 46 member states in the European region. Membership is open to all European states which accept the principle of the rule of law and guarantee fundamental human rights and freedoms to their citizens.

Membership

[[Image:Council of Europe map.png|thumb|300px|Council of Europe membership

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Dark green: ten original members

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Light green: joined subsequently

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Yellow: observer at the Parliamentary Assembly

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Orange: observer at the Committee of Ministers

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Red: official candidate]]

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Today, there are 46 member states, including nearly every European state. Upon foundation on May 5, 1949 there were ten members:

Related Topics:
May 5 - 1949

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• {{BEL}}
• {{DNK}}
• {{FRA}}
• {{IRL}}
• {{ITA}}
• {{LUX}}
• {{NLD}}
• {{NOR}}
• {{SWE}}
• {{UK}}

Members with later admission dates (sorted by date of admission) :

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• {{TUR}} (9 August 1949)
• {{GRC}} (9 August 1949)
• {{ICE}} (9 March 1950)
• {{DEU}} Federal Republic of Germany (13 July 1950)
• {{AUT}} (16 April 1956)
• {{CYP}} (24 May 1961)
• {{CHE}} (6 May 1963)
• {{MLT}} (29 April 1965)
• {{PRT}} (22 September 1976)
• {{ESP}} (24 November 1977)
• {{LIE}} (23 November 1978)
• {{SMR}} (16 November 1988)
• {{FIN}} (5 May 1989)
• {{HUN}} (6 November 1990)
• {{POL}} (26 November 1991)
• {{BGR}} (7 May 1992)
• {{EST}} (14 May 1993)
• {{LTU}} (14 May 1993)
• {{SVN}} (14 May 1993)
• {{CZE}} (30 June 1993)
• {{SVK}} (30 June 1993)
• {{ROU}} (7 October 1993)
• {{AND}} (10 October 1994)
• {{LVA}} (10 February 1995)
• {{ALB}} (13 July 1995)
• {{MOL}} (13 July 1995)
• {{MKD}} (9 November 1995)
• {{UKR}} (9 November 1995)
• {{RUS}} (28 February 1996)
• {{HRV}} (6 November 1996)
• {{GEO}} (27 April 1999)
• {{ARM}} (25 January 2001)
• {{AZE}} (25 January 2001)
• {{BiH}} (24 April 2002)
• {{SCG}} (3 April 2003)
• {{MON}} (5 October 2004)

The Parliament of {{BLR}} held special guest status with the Parliamentary Assembly from September 1992 to January 1997, but this has been suspended as a consequence of the November 1996 constitutional referendum and parliament by-elections which the CoE found to be undemocratic, as well as limits on democratic freedoms such as freedom of expression (cf. Belarusian media) under the authoritarian regime of President Lukashenko. The constitution changed by the referendum "does not respect minimum democratic standards and violates the principles of separation of powers and the rule of law." http://press.coe.int/cp/97/11a(97).htm. Belarus applied for full membership on 12 March 1993 (still open).

Related Topics:
Freedom of expression - Belarusian media - Lukashenko - 12 March - 1993

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The {{VAT}} has observer status at the Committee of Ministers since 1970.

Related Topics:
Committee of Ministers - 1970

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Some non-European states also have observer status at Council of Europe institutions:

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:{{JPN}} and the {{USA}} have observer status at the Committee of Ministers.

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:{{ISR}} has observer status at the Parliamentary Assembly.

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:{{CAN}} and {{MEX}} have observer status at both the Committee of Ministers and the Parliamentary Assembly.

Related Topics:
Committee of Ministers - Parliamentary Assembly

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